Lost and Found | Transportation Security Administration (2024)

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), some office in-person pick up is suspended until further notice.

The Lost & Found contacts are for items left at TSA security checkpoints or items missing from checked baggage. For items left in other areas of the airport, please check the airport's website for contact information.

Aberdeen Regional Airport (ABR)
Aberdeen, South Dakota
605-330-2500
Abilene Regional Airport (ABI)
Abilene, Texas
325-676-6367
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI)
Springfield, Illinois
309-757-6617
Adak Airport (ADK)
Adak, Alaska
907-592-0634
Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK)
Saranac Lake, New York
Online Form

Items left behind at TSA security checkpoints are held by TSA for a minimum of 30 days or until the item is reunited with the original owner.

Electronics

Passengers are encouraged to place their contact information on the outside of their electronics, such as laptops, in case the item is left behind. TSA will make every effort to reunite passengers with their belongings.

Unclaimed electronics will have its memory removed and destroyed (e.g. laptop hard drive) or be destroyed completely (e.g. items with non-removable memory) to protect personal data after the 30-day holding period.

Claiming Items

Passengers may return to the airport to pick up their item or may approve someone else, in writing, to do so. Items can be shipped back to the owner at the owner’s expense. TSA is not authorized to spend money to return items to passengers.

FAQ

Does TSA gain any profit from any lost or abandoned items?

Money from the sale of all lost and found items goes to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and into a general fund used to pay towards the U.S. national debt.

How do I file a claim for a missing or damaged item?

You may file a claim if you are injured or your property is lost or damaged during the screening process. Screening at certain airports is performed by private companies and not TSA.

How do I pick up my item from lost and found?

To retrieve the item, youmust be able to describe the item, when it was lost, the color of the item, or any information identifying the item, to ensure it is reunited with its rightful owner.

How do I recover a lost item left at the airport?

Contactlost and found to locate items left at the security checkpoint. For items left elsewhere in the airport, please contact the airport authority.

How many lost and found items are found by TSA annually?

TSA estimates that approximately 90,000 to 100,000 items are left behind at checkpoints each month.

What happens if an ID is left behind at a checkpoint?

TSA works with the airport to reunite passengers with all lost or unclaimed personal property, including personal identification items such as drivers’ licenses and passports, left behind at a checkpoint. If the ID is not claimed within 30 days, it is destroyed.

What happens to guns/weapons found in carry-on bags left behind?

All weapons detected in carry-on bags are turned over to local law enforcement authorities.

What happens to items left at security checkpoints? Is there a process?

TSA makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left behind at the airport checkpoint. Lost and found items retained by TSA for a minimum of thirty (30) days, and if not claimed, are either destroyed, turned over to a state agency for surplus property, or sold by TSA as excess property. The state may dispose of the items through sales, destruction, donations or charities. The state keeps any money from sales, not TSA. At a number of locations, lost and found items are turned over to the airport at the end of each day.

What happens to lost items that contain personal information?

Unclaimed electronics will have its memory removed and destroyed (e.g. laptop hard drive) or be destroyed completely (e.g. items with non-removable memory) to protect personal data after the 30-day holding period.

What information should I provide on the claim?

Provide as much detail as possible including receipts, appraisals and flight information to avoid delays. Contact your airline for lost or missing baggage.

What is the status of my claim?

Please allow up to six months to fully investigate your claim. Claims that require investigation by law enforcement require additional processing time.

All claims are investigated thoroughly and the final decision to approve a claim rests with TSA. If your claim is approved, you will receive a letter and form to complete regarding settlement agreement and/or payment methods. You can check the status of your claim at any time.

Lost and Found | Transportation Security Administration (2024)

FAQs

What to do if you lose something at TSA? ›

Contact lost and found to locate items left at the security checkpoint. For items left elsewhere in the airport, please contact the airport authority.

What is the number for lost and found lga? ›

For items lost at a TSA screening point, please call (718) 505-5839. For all locations, please report your property lost at https://www.chargerback.com/lga and follow directions for LaGuardia Airport. Initiating a report through the system will generate a number, allow you to send messages, and check for updates.

What is the number for Seatac lost and found? ›

If you have lost or found items at SEA Airport, please contact us (206) 787-5312! We apologize for any inconveniences and we will assist you in recovering it. Submit a lost or found property report with The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport lost and found department.

How do I call TSA about my lost ID? ›

You may call (855) 787-2227 or submit an online form.

What to do with a lost and found item? ›

One option is to hold an auction. Another option is to donate the items to a charity or non-profit organization. This can be a good way to help those in need while also getting rid of unclaimed items that are taking up space. The use of technology can greatly improve the effectiveness of a lost and found operation.

How do you get your TSA number if you lost it? ›

If you are a member of the TSA PreCheck® Application Program, look up your Known Traveler Number (KTN) here. If you are a member of another trusted traveler program, such as Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, log on to the Trusted Traveler Program website to obtain your PASSID, which is your KTN.

What is the procedure for lost and found in airport? ›

Airport Baggage Lost and Found Standard Procedure:
  1. The concierge team should obtain the following reference from the guest:
  2. a) Passport.
  3. b) Lost Report / Property Irregularity Report (PIR)
  4. c) Authorisation Letter.
  5. a. Photocopy of guest passport;
  6. b. Lost luggage Report from the airline staff;
  7. c. Authorization Letter;
Sep 23, 2023

How do I contact TSA at SeaTac? ›

If your flight is within 72 hours, please call TSA Cares (855) 787-2227 to request assistance.

What is the lost and found app for airports? ›

The app called 'Lost and Found' can be downloaded from the website of the Information and Technology Ministry. NEW DELHI: The CISF has launched a mobile application through which travellers can register complaints to recover items they lost or forgot at various airports.

How can I speak to a live person at TSA? ›

(866) 289-9673

Representatives are available 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET weekdays; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekends/holidays.

How does TSA verify identity without ID? ›

The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process, which includes collecting information such as your name, current address and other personal information to confirm your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint.

Will TSA accept a picture of your ID on your phone? ›

Use Your Eligible Digital ID at TSA Checkpoint

A message on your mobile device will ask you to consent to share your digital ID information with TSA. Once you consent, the camera will take your picture. Follow the officer's instructions.

Does TSA reimburse lost items? ›

If you have experienced a loss or damage to your property and you feel that this loss or damage occurred as a direct result of negligence by a TSA employee, you may file a claim with TSA. If you feel the loss or damage was due to the negligence of your air carrier, please file a claim directly with the air carrier.

What do I do if I lost something on a plane? ›

Lost and found
  1. On the plane, at the gate or in an Admirals Club® File a lost and found report and we'll search for your item for up to 30 days. ...
  2. In the airport. Contact the airport's lost and found department directly from the information on their website. ...
  3. At security. Contact TSA's lost and found department directly. ...
  4. Bags.

What happens if the airport loses your stuff? ›

Once an airline determines that your bag is lost, the airline is responsible for compensating you for your bags' contents - subject to depreciation and maximum liability limits.

What if TSA took something from my bag? ›

If the item isn't in lost and found, it's time to file a claim with the TSA. When filing, include as much information as possible—receipts, appraisals, and the information for your flight will all help your claim to be processed in a timelier manner.

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